​Play it again, Sam – and Zak – as Leyland enjoy double win

Both matches produced near identical scorelines as Sam Oldham piled on runs with Zak Willox.

In Saturday's league fixture against St Annes, Oldham hit 19 boundaries in an unbeaten 122 and shared 162 for the third wicket with opener Willox (52) as Leyland posted 265-7.

The visitors' cause soon seemed hopeless at 55-5, though they elevated their final total to 184 with an unbeaten 55 from Rory Urquhart.

It was an uncannily similar story against Prestwich on Saturday, when Leyland posted 264-4 before dismissing their Greater Manchester Premier League visitors for 183.

Willox (120) was the centurion this time and his stand with Oldham (82) was worth 174.

Longridge are up to fifth after an excellent away win at previous leaders Carlisle.

Rhys Morgan and Alex Mason both hit half-centuries as the visitors posted 195-7. Mason then took 4-47 as the hosts were all out for 165

An opening stand of 83 between Lewis Smith (43) and Stuart Els (42) got the Prestwich reply off to a promising start but they couldn't maintain the pace and were all out with 7.3 overs remaining.

Chorley to climbed out of the relegation zone with a 74-run home win over Settle.

The Windsor Park men piled on 267-5 as opener Harry Barclay led the way with 101 (12 boundaries). Sunny Singh took 4-88.

Settle tested Chorley's patience with a stand of 53 for the final wicket but were all out for 193 as Toby Johnston took 4-63.

Garstang slipped to fourth after they were beaten by an agonising one wicket by Kendal at Shap Road.

Lahiru Madushanka hit an unbeaten 76 as the visitors posted 186-6 Cole Abrahams hit 65 in reply, but Garstang reduced the hosts to 179-9.

However, the last wicket partnership of Kuldeep Singh (10) and Matt Jackson (3) got their men over the line despite Madushanka’s 5-49.

​It was a double-header weekend in NPCL Division Two and Euxton won on both days to maintain their challenge at the top.

Sunday's close encounter at home to Penwortham ended in victory by nine runs after posting 214-8.

A solid opening stand of 53 between top scorer Max Harper (43) and Josh Tolley would prove invaluable to Euxton, as the visitors closed just short at 205-8 after Connor Brown made 52 and Nathan Walmsley led a late charge with an unbeaten 48.

No such nervous moments for Euxton on Saturday at Whalley, where they won by 141 runs after posting 233-5.

Tolley's unbeaten 103 was enough to win the game singlehanded as the hosts were then removed for 92.

Penwortham were routed by Morecambe on Saturday, losing by 10 wickets after being skittled for 80.

Preston enjoyed a victorious weekend although they defeated Great Eccleston by the skin of their teeth on Saturday.

Sajid Patel’s 47 proving crucial as they edged to their target of 177 with one wicket to spare. It was a close match a day later at Lytham, but the visitors earned a 17-run win with Ismail Patel taking 4-59.

Fulwood and Broughton secured two wins, dismissing Thornton Cleveleys for 48 as Lewis Wellings took 5-26 at Highfield. Earlier, the hosts’ 230-8 included half-centuries for Simon Kerrigan (52) and Clayton Stone (50).

A day later, Kerrigan (6-50) and Jon Fenton (4-45) as F&B eased to a six-wicket over Morecambe at home. Ben Rosbottom scored 64.

Vernon Carus’ suffered only their second defeat in nine completed games in the Palace Shield Championship at the weekend.

​Ian Dunn’s men were hoping to make a huge statement by beating leaders Heysham, but ultimately they were beaten by five wickets at Factory Lane.

Fine half-centuries from Bob Bridges and Toby Leach got the hosts out of a spot of trouble as they posted a competitive 195-9. Jamie Cassidy and Oliver Toulmin each took three wickets. Ryan Pearson’s unbeaten 83 proved pivotal in the visitors’ run chase

Eccleston won by 99 runs at Penrith , posting 177 thanks to Alex Brooks’ 40, although Sam Sharp returned figures of 4-34.

They then dismissed their hosts for 78, Naseem Abbas took 4-31.

Garstang 2nds were beaten by 19 runs at home to Torrisholme. Josh Woodhead and Tom Wells shared eights wickets between them as the Riversiders bowled their opponents out for 159.

However, Irfan Qayyum and Jack Heap took three wickets apiece as the hosts were all out for 140.